Publishing Details

Publisher

Simon & Schuster

Imprint

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date

1 July 2017

NZ Release Date

1 July 2017

Publication Country

United States

Description

Prepare to be cured by this quirky and hilarious debut novel about a sixteen-year-old loner who is sent to rehab for video game addiction-"perfect for teen gamers and readers who are fans of Jesse Andrews and John Green" (School Library Journal). Sixteen-year-old Jaxon is being committed to video game rehab...ten minutes after meeting a girl. A living, breathing girl named Serena, who not only laughed at his jokes but actually kinda sorta seemed excited when she agreed to go out with him. Jaxon's first date. Ever. In rehab, Jaxon can't blast his way through galaxies to reach her. He can't slash through armies to kiss her sweet lips. Instead, he has four days to earn one million points by learning real-life skills. And he'll do whatever it takes-lie, cheat, steal, even learn how to cross-stitch-in order to make it to his date. If all else fails, Jaxon will have to bare his soul to the other teens in treatment, confront his mother's absence, and maybe admit that it's more than video games that stand in the way of a real connection. From a bright new voice in young adult literature comes the story of a young man with a serious case of arrested development-and carpal tunnel syndrome-who is about to discover what real life is all about.

Author Biography

Christian Heidicker is an awfully charming young author from Utah. Cure for the Common Universe is his debut novel. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Learn more at CMHeidicker.com.

Reviews

"A plugged-in young adult comedy about the pain of unplugging... perfect for teen gamers and readers who are fans of Jesse Andrews and John Green." -- School Library Journal "Heidicker's debut crackles with twitchy energy... this is a fun, absurdist romp through gaming culture, populated by zany characters and a quest narrative worthy of its own game." -- Booklist "Where the novel really shines is in Jaxon's interactions-as a white, upper-middle-class boy-with campmates who are diverse in terms of both ethnicity and sexuality, and who challenge some of his preexisting assumptions. In confronting Jaxon's privilege and complicated family history, the book eschews easy answers for a more authentic ending that promises that the work of self-improvement is ongoing and difficult." -- Publishers Weekly "This novel is reminiscent of Vizzini's The Other Normals or Yang's Level Up. Notably (and happily), however, it avoids the typical game-blaming and recognizes excessive time online as the symptom, not the cause, of these kids' problems...Gamer readers will flock to this novel and fall in love with its insider jokes, game-allusions, and snarky attitude. They're also likely to identify with Jaxon's frustrations, root for him to win, and appreciate seeing him learn a (very) little something in the end." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books